The top attractions in Athens

The Parthenon is the emblem of the city of Athens. It is very impressive when you arrive there, although you'll already have seen it a thousand times on the TV or on postcards you´ve been sent, but it´s not the same as being there in

The Erechtheion is an Ionic masterpiece that was built 421-406 BC and it's the most famous temple - the famous tribune of the Caryatids. It's a polychrome portico with 6 columns (originally) with female figures, all the figures are

This colossal temple is the largest in Greece and it took over 700 years to complete. Originally it had 104 Corinthian columns that reach 17 meters high, of which only 15 remain. The credit for its completion goes to Adriano who

Plaka is probably the most popular neighborhood in Athens, as well as one of the oldest. And, given its location just below the Acropolis, it's also the one that attracts the most tourists. The neighborhood consists of a cluster small

Piraeus is the port in Athens. It is an essential part of the city, even though it's quite far from downtown. It has shipyards, factories manufacturing agricultural machinery, glass, textiles, and chemicals. As you head towards

Oh, the monuments in Athens! In the majestic Agora of Athens, always under the watchful eye of the Acróplolis, rises the Hephaestion, a beautiful, marble temple with Doric columns. It is located in the Agora, as I said before. For

Syntagma Square is located in the center of Athens and where you can catch the metro lines 2 and 3 to explore the city. It's also where the Greek Parliament, home of the famous changing of the guards, is located. It's a real

From this small crag, for some a simple rock, you have one of the best views of the sprawling city of Athens. You can see the hills of Licabetos, Filopappos or Ardeto, the dwindling green areas of the city, the Far Piraeus. From here

Located on the southwest slopes of the Acropolis in Athens, this grand building is also known as the Odeon of Herodes Atticus or Herodeon. Dating back to 161 BC, it was built by Herod Atticus in honor of his wife Grid who had died the

Opened in 2001, this new airport was created to accommodate the passengers ve came to attend the Olympic Games in 2004, since the airport that was there before it was too small for such an event. Modern, the airport offers numerous

We had to return another day as the museum has very different opening hours. Before going, make sure to check that it will be open. I liked it a great deal, however, if you don't bother with an audio guide or a guide, you may not

At the bottom of the Acropolis this is the first thing you see upon entering. It's well preserved and I can not believe that theater was born here. It was built in the fourth century BC, had capacity for 17,000 people and was used as

Athens, of all the cities I've seen, is the one I found most surprising. The mixture of East and West together with absolute chaos, makes the city of Athens a perfect place to get lost. My last two visits I stayed at Hostel Zeus on

The Greek Parliament, or Vouli to the Greeks, is located in the Parliamentary building in Syntagma Square in Athens. In technical aspects, the Hellenic Parliament is a unicameral legislature of 300 members, elected for a term of 4

The Tower of the Winds, also known as Horologion, is a beautiful, well preserved tower located in the old part of the Roman Agora at the bottom part of the Acropolis. The eight facades have the winds blowing in every direction carved

Parliament is guarded by evzones, which are guards dressed in the traditional uniform of a short skirt and brogues with pompoms. On the hour, three replacements arrive parading along Vasilissis Sofias and it makes for a picturesque

Near "Vouli", where the Greek parliament is based, this large park is adored by all the inhabitants of the city. It has an area of 16 hectares and although formerly called "Royal Gardens", was renamed the "National Garden" by decree

This tiny church, which looks more like a chapel from in any village in Greece, is almost eaten by tall, modern buildings in the center of Athens. It's an oasis of calm and tranquility between the vortex and the rush of the Greek

Museum of the Ancient Agora is located in the Stoa of Attalos and was restored by the American School of Classical Studies between 1953 and 1956 in order to accommodate the objects found in the excavations of the Ancient Agora of

It has ancient treasures of the Acropolis of Athens arranged harmoniously and with different atmospheres created by light from the windows, according to the time of day. It's built on stilts in the Athenian archaeological site and

A large triumphal arch built around 132 BC. The people of the city built it north of the Olympian, the site of the temple of Zeus, in honor of the Emperor Hadrian, who had done many works for the city. It was built on the road leading

The fish market in Athens is next to the meat market, in the Agora. It covers two long aisles filled with baskets and boxes full of seafood. There are dozens of types of fish for sale. A few years ago the hygienic conditions were not

This is located next to Monastiraki archaeological site and is a little forgotten by tourists. In it you can see the remains of the walls of Athens. You can also see graves, tombstones and sculptures. In its museum are the originals

This small market is in the Plaka tourist district, close to the Acropolis and the ruins and monuments which are most visited in the centre. It is rather surprising since antique and flea markets tend to be a bit further away from the

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier monument is next to the parliament building, in front of Syntagma Square. The tomb of the unknown soldier in Paris, is always guarded by Greek guards, Evzones, and is dedicated to the brave soldiers who

The Athens Metro is a fast and efficient means of transport in the Greek capital. It consists of 3 lines, the oldest being Line 1, which runs along the surface for the majority of its trajectory. The following 2 lines were part of a

An imposing building used today as a conference center and exhibit space, both public and private. Donated by Evangelos and Konstantinos Zappas, two cousins ​​ve made a fortune in Romania. Built between 1874 and 1888 by the architect

The best things to do in Athens

For most people considering what to do in Athens, thoughts turn to the city's amazingly rich ancient history. Of course, among the major things to see in Athens is the Acropolis, the most important site in ancient Greece, and the Parthenon, a temple dedicated to the goddess Athena. But while these two monuments may be the best-known Athens attractions, they are not the only places to visit in Athens for history enthusiasts.

Next to the Parthenon is the Temple of Caryatid, a portico with six columns, each decorated with female figures. Another of the ancient attractions in Athens is the Temple of Zeus, a temple that was built in marble columns 17 metres tall. Anyone with an interest in the fascinating world of ancient Greece will be spoiled for choice when it comes to things to do in Athens: there's also the Panathenaic Stadium, the Theater of Dionysus, and the Adrian Library ... all with rich history.

In the city center you can find Syntagma Square, home to the Greek Parliament and many others museums and parks. Here you can attend the famous changing of the guard or visit the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and enjoy plenty of more modern Athens activities after taking the time to look at the city's history. Know that there are different areas of the city and each one has its own charm. Plaka, known as the Neighborhood of the Gods, is the oldest and has narrow streets stocked you can find souvenir shops. If splashing the cash is on your list of stuff to do in Athens, then Monastiraki is one of the main shopping areas of the city with streets full of shops.

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